This week, the United States Treasury Department placed sanctions on three Venezuelans - Pedro Martin, Walter Del Nogal, and Mario Rodriguez - under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. The move comes less than two weeks before presidential elections are scheduled in Venezuela.

In a recent declaration, the European Union announced that it would take "appropriate measures" to support "peaceful and democratic solutions" in Venezuela. Such measures could possibly include additional sanctions on the regime of President Nicolás Maduro.